When GOP presidential candidate and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, 38, called for 50-year-old RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel to resign, he wasn’t kidding. Ramaswamy offered to give up his time on the debate stage for McDaniel to resign over her failure to get any traction in Tuesday’s off-year election. Now Ramaswamy has even more cause for McDaniel to resign, threatening GOP candidates wanting to attend the Christian Family Leader Foundation conference in Des Moines. “Any Republican presidential candidate who participates in this or other similar event will be deemed to have violated this pledge and will be disqualified from taking part in any future RNC-sanctioned presidential primary debates,” said an Oct. 28 letter. What is McDaniel think threatening what left of the GOP field, whittled down to only five remaining candidates?
MeDaniel acts like she can control GOP candidates when they’re the ones calling the s shots. McDaniel became RNC Chair Jan. 18, 20217, only two days before former President Donald Trump’s inaugurations. Republicans lost the House in the 2018 Midterm election, eventually losing the Senate in 2020. With a track record like that, where does McDaniel think she can threaten GOP candidates before the next GOP debate? Trump holds a commanding lead in the primary field at 58.5%. Liberal broadcast and print outlets talk about former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley surging in the polls at 9%, given several points behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 14.4%, still well below Trump. McDaniel shouldn’t threaten GOP candidates but allow the remaining candidate to do whatever they want. McDaniel’s sanctions RNC debates have been poorly attended with low Nielsen ratings
McDaniel can threaten GOP candidates all she wants but it won’t stop them from attending the Family Leader Foundation’s Christian event. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former President Donald Trump all plan to attend the event. Attending the event has no effect on future RNC debate ratings. McDaniel should retract her past warnings and tell any GOP candidate they’re welcome to attend any event outside the RNC. McDaniel has made unrealistic demands of GOP candidates and must tender her resignation. Ramaswamy had a good point at the debate about Republican failures over McDanie’s tenure as RNC chairwoman. U.S. press tends to blame Trump, not recognizing in 2020 that Republicans won back the House. When push comes to shove Nov. 17 on a new continuing budget resolution, no one knows whether House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) can stop a shutdown.
DeSantis, who’s second at 14.4% in the GOP race said he would attend the Christian event whether he’s banned from any future RNC debates. DeSantis figured out the numbers aren’t changing, making the RNC debates worthless. “I’ll be here no matter what happens, and so you guys can pencil me in for that,” DeSantis said, defying Ronna’s foolish edict. Republicans used to be the less government invasive party until the Supreme Court ended Roe v. Wade June 24, 2022, creating more headaches for the GOP. Democrats have a field day with Republicans confused on abortion. Democrats support a women’s right to choose, regardless of how late-term the abortion. Republicans are dividend over exceptions for rape and incest but, more importantly, whether or no state legislatures around the country should be setting new standards for who qualified for abortion.
Republicans have real problems with abortion since the Supreme Court ended Roe v. Wade. Most Republicans celebrate the ruling that has alienated the better share of independent voters, accounting for 33% of the electorate. Republicans are left with state legislatures outright banning abortion or setting arbitrary time parameters, varying from six to 15 weeks. Supreme Court in ruling for Dobbs v. Jackson concluded [6-3] that the Constitution offers no guarantee of abortion. However the court majority ruled in Dobbs there was no Constitutional guarantee to abortion, it defied all logic. Roe v. Wade was not about abortion, it was the right of women to determine their own health care. Now Republicans are stuck with the unpopular position of promoting a federal government ban on abortion It’s unrealistic to expect that a majority of women accept the government making health care decisions.
Evangelicals hope to make a splash in 2024, the first federal election in over 50 years without Roe v. Wade. While Evangelicals celebrate, it’s been a nightmare for mainstream voters, especially women, to get behind the government’s control over medical decision. McDaniel doesn’t help the GOP cause by threatening candidates planning to attend an Evangelical event. McDaniel should be doing everything possible to support GOP candidates, not threaten to keep them off the debate stage. With Trump already boycotting the debates, the RNC ratings have been poor compared to prior election cycles. McDaniel should be making it easy for GOP candidates to get the word our in any setting that advances the GOP’s chances in 2024. Ending Roe v. Wade was a blow to Republicans trying to explain why they want more government control of wemen’s health care.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin n national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
